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West Tisbury Selectmen Ban Chicken-Killing Dog

West Tisbury selectmen took disciplinary action this week against two dog owners whose canines got loose and killed chickens and geese.

In the first of two public hearings, selectmen learned that a mutt puppy rescue dog belonging to Spencer Binney and Lizzy Kent had killed two ducks belonging to Jim Arasian in October. Mr. Binney and Ms. Kent have since moved to Vineyard Haven. This was the second incident; the dog had previously killed chickens in another neighbor’s yard.

Animal control officer Joan Jenkinson recommended that the dog be kept out of town. Mr. Binney said the dog is now under control. “Since our first meeting with Joanie about the chickens he’s been on a leash all the time and on this particular time . . . he got out of the house,” he said. “We didn’t move to Vineyard Haven because of these incidents. I feel like if the dog is under our control it’s not a danger to anybody.”

“Having a dog go to another town doesn’t solve the problem,” he said. “Backyard farms are popping up all over the place and owners are being irresponsible and destroying a way of life here. Once is terrible, never mind twice. I think this dog needs to be euthanized now. I don’t think anyone has to suffer any further.”

“This is serious stuff,” selectman Cynthia Mitchell said.

In the end the selectmen sided with Mrs. Jenkinson, voting 2-1 that the dog not be allowed to return to West Tisbury without permission. The owners also will be required to pay $100 in fines. Mr. Manter cast the dissenting vote.

In a second dog hearing selectmen issued a ruling in the case of two Akitas belonging to Taggart Young that had killed two of Richard Andre’s geese. The dogs had been tied up outside and chewed through their rope to escape. The owner was apparently away and the dogs were being looked after by a caretaker.

Mrs. Jenkinson recommended that Mr. Young build a chain link enclosure for the dogs within the next two weeks, pay an outstanding $100 fine and $150 in restitution toward Mr. Andre. The owner agreed to the terms and said the incident would not happen again. “If I leave in the future I intend to leave the dogs with a better caregiver,” he said.

Mrs. Jenkinson said once a dog kills livestock they are prone to do it again and that Mr. Andre has the right to shoot a dog that comes onto his property and threatens livestock.

“You don’t want to lose your dog to a gunshot and that almost happened,” she said.

The board agreed with the animal control officer’s recommendation, again 2-1, again with Mr. Manter dissenting.